Hi,
why not use a top level subdirectory called contributions
(similar to the whiteboard)? You see this in many OS-trees
even in tomcat!
This tree could just contain any org.* net.* com.* packages
- as long as they are released under the apache license
and are fully JavaDoc'ed. As JVZ states, thing can go in
there is it passes the scrutiny of the committers and gets
the required votes.
A separate jar can be made for the contributions. But any
user can just pick out what he needs and put it beside
(or even into) his application tree disregarding the other
contributions. Patches can be posted just the same as for
any core file.
In this way only the source file tar will be a tiny bit
larger. It's easy to handle and all can then profit.
Note that through voting the committers can avoid any
non Velocity stuff getting in there (giving hints to the
developers where else to post their contributions...
but then at least the subject is covered in the mailing
list and searching for desired tools could be done...).
Just my 2c for what it's worth.
:) Christoph
